WACO, Texas (Feb. 20, 2022) – A night of firsts ended with Mitch Meier in victory lane.
Meier led all 25 laps of the opening night main event in the Sniper Speed IMCA Lone Star Stock Car Tour Sunday at Heart O’ Texas Speedway.
The $1,000 victory was Meier’s IMCA Sunoco Stock Car career first and also came in his first start in a new Ultimate Race Car. Damon Murty ran second from lap eight to the finish of the 25-lapper, trying every lane on the track to get past but ultimately settling for runner-up points and pay.
“It was an awesome win. There were a lot of good drivers here tonight and it was pretty cool being able to hold off Damon. He’s one of the best,” said Meier, from Chilton, Wis., and a 141 Speedway regular. “The (distinctly Texan) trophy is probably one of the best I’ll ever get. We got some unique ones at Luxemburg when I was racing a Sport Compact but this one tops ‘em all.”
Home state hotshoes Shelby Williams, hard charger P.J. Egbert and Matt Guillaume completed the top five. Fifty-eight drivers from 11 states vied in the tour lidlifter.
Meier drew the outside pole start and was chased early by Williams; Murty moved into the second spot before multiple cautions at halfway, then tried high and low to get around the leader as the race stayed green the last 10 laps.
Murty was just half a car length off the pace when lap 23 was scored but Meier edged away the last two times around the oval to win by six tenth’s of a second.
“Lap 23 was the only time I saw him (Murty),” said Meier, steady through the multiple restarts and now eligible to qualify for the B & B Racing Chassis All-Star Invitational. “I kept telling myself to think of this like a local night of racing and just don’t make any mistakes.”
The trip south was the first for Meier, who postponed his Texas travel plans after the 2021 tour fell to inclement weather. He’s raced an IMCA Stock Car since 2018, after collecting a dozen wins during a brief Mach-1 Sport Compact career.
Egbert’s drive to fourth came from 17th starting.
Jesse Sobbing won the IMCA Modified feature, ahead of 10th starting William Gould and ninth starting Caleb Stone.
And Michael Dabney was the Smiley’s Racing Products Southern SportMod winner, with John Rabozzi and Paul White completing the top three.
Feature results – 1. Mitch Meier, Chilton, Wis.; 2. Damon Murty, Chelsea, Iowa; 3. Shelby Williams, Bonham; 4. P.J. Egbert, Copperas Cove; 5. Matt Guillaume, Haslet; 6. Jason Rogers, Selden, Kan.; 7. Dan Mackenthun, Hamburg, Minn.; 8. Dallon Murty, Chelsea, Iowa; 9. Jordan Zillmer, Cleveland, N.D.; 10. Damon Richards, David City, Neb.; 11. Blake Clark, Joshua; 12. Taylor Carver, Lockesburg, Ark.; 13. Demetrius Carter, Alvarado; 14. Jeff Taylor, Cave City, Ark.; 15. Matt Speckman, Sleepy Eye, Minn.; 16. Mark Simon, Buffalo, Minn.; 17. Dustin Mooney, Forney; 18. Elijah Zevenbergen, Ocheyedan, Iowa; 19. Derek Brown, Stoutland, Mo.; 20. William Gould, Calera, Okla.; 21. Caleb Stone, Lovington, N.M.; 22. Cameron Cook, Grand Prairie; 23. Jesse Sobbing, Malvern, Iowa; 24. Erik Miles, Fort Worth; 25. Chris Webb, Hendrix, Okla.
